The Memorial Union is one of the main buildings on UC DavisCampus, and arguably the most publicly traveled building. Often dubbed "the MU", it contains a variety of interesting places and things. Students pay a yearly "Memorial Union Fee" of $85.50. Open 24 Hours during the week of finals as to provide students space to study.

History

View of the Memorial Union from the east side (2010).

According to the UCD V-tour, it was "dedicated in 1955 to honor 128 UC Davis students and alumni who lost their lives in military service." Griffin Lounge houses the Golden Memory Book, which lists all of the names of former UC Davis students who died in the armed services.

When originally built the MU was only a single story building, housing a dining commons, kitchen, faculty club, student lounge, Alumni Association offices, a soda fountain and a student store. But fund raising campaigns from 1961 to 1968 added the second, third and fourth stories along with the MU Games Area and the UC Davis Bookstore. It was last renovated in 1996 to bring the seismic safety rating from "poor" to "good", at a cost of $8.4 million. The 4 story concrete lattice that is visible from the south side of the MU was added at that time to reinforce the building.

In spring of 2007, one of the largest flashmobs in US history occurred at the ATM machines.

Memorial Union Renewal Project

The MU will be undergoing a massive renovation, beginning in Spring 2015. Most offices and departments will close or relocate during portions of the renovations. Lounge and study spaces will be expanded, ADA compliances and seismic codes will be met, retail spaces updated, the UC Davis Veterans Affairs Office will move in, and entry ways will be made "more dynamic."

Concept render of the new lounge spaces.Concept renderConcept render

Areas in the MU

The MU hosts to several commercial operations, some owned and operated by UC Davis itself, other private businesses that lease space from UC Davis via the MU Auxillary Services department (homepage: http://www-muas.ucdavis.edu/). Other space in the union is devoted to University administrative offices related to students, student government, and various meeting rooms.

First Floor

The Memorial Union's flags and seal are prominent on the north side (2005).

UC Davis Bookstore. We wouldn't be a campus without a place to gouge the hell out of us on textbook prices, right?